Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and North Korea

Fertility rate in Belgium vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Belgium

North Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Belgium	North Korea
2023	1.47	1.78
2022	1.53	1.8
2021	1.6	1.81
2020	1.55	1.82
2019	1.6	1.83
2018	1.62	1.83
2017	1.65	1.85
2016	1.68	1.86
2015	1.7	1.86
2014	1.74	1.87
2013	1.76	1.88
2012	1.8	1.88
2011	1.81	1.88
2010	1.86	1.89
2009	1.84	1.91
2008	1.85	1.97
2007	1.82	1.94
2006	1.8	1.94
2005	1.76	1.87
2004	1.72	1.9
2003	1.67	1.91
2002	1.65	1.92
2001	1.67	1.94
2000	1.67	1.94
1999	1.62	1.97
1998	1.6	1.99
1997	1.6	2.03
1996	1.59	2.09
1995	1.56	2.15
1994	1.56	2.18
1993	1.61	2.22
1992	1.65	2.29
1991	1.66	2.35
1990	1.62	2.39
1989	1.58	2.41
1988	1.57	2.47
1987	1.54	2.53
1986	1.54	2.59
1985	1.51	2.65
1984	1.54	2.71
1983	1.57	2.78
1982	1.61	2.85
1981	1.66	2.92
1980	1.68	2.84
1979	1.69	2.85
1978	1.69	2.79
1977	1.71	2.77
1976	1.73	2.84
1975	1.74	3.05
1974	1.83	3.14
1973	1.95	3.35
1972	2.09	3.89
1971	2.21	3.74
1970	2.25	3.85
1969	2.27	3.86
1968	2.31	3.87
1967	2.41	4.05
1966	2.52	3.71
1965	2.61	3.56
1964	2.71	3.55
1963	2.68	3.63
1962	2.59	3.41
1961	2.63	3.26
1960	2.54	3.57

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.78 in North Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Belgium vs North Korea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Belgium

North Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Belgium	North Korea
2023	0	86,203
2022	-2,336	96,495
2021	5,793	99,710
2020	-12,692	95,920
2019	8,042	106,208
2018	7,999	113,164
2017	10,238	120,181
2016	14,731	125,048
2015	11,274	127,365
2014	21,297	127,078
2013	16,739	122,519
2012	18,882	118,773
2011	25,388	114,798
2010	23,970	112,443
2009	23,752	111,530
2008	22,491	122,015
2007	23,376	120,521
2006	21,096	129,171
2005	15,718	132,765
2004	16,673	155,838
2003	7,263	178,775
2002	7,233	119,504
2001	11,315	143,321
2000	12,302	161,591
1999	9,203	181,613
1998	9,183	197,589
1997	12,218	211,325
1996	12,188	226,095
1995	11,150	233,381
1994	12,139	320,861
1993	14,118	320,880
1992	20,090	324,002
1991	22,010	320,551
1990	19,935	312,460
1989	13,912	303,078
1988	14,853	299,305
1987	11,844	296,030
1986	5,917	293,227
1985	2,958	287,714
1984	4,927	282,987
1983	2,956	279,046
1982	7,885	276,332
1981	11,831	273,800
1980	10,845	255,206
1979	11,818	251,409
1978	7,872	243,533
1977	8,847	242,870
1976	1,964	255,841
1975	0	288,966
1974	7,818	306,902
1973	11,690	338,600
1972	18,451	411,997
1971	21,281	393,220
1970	23,173	406,129
1969	21,221	404,189
1968	20,199	399,837
1967	31,618	414,632
1966	36,206	363,882
1965	39,748	335,587
1964	51,580	323,623
1963	41,804	321,805
1962	42,414	286,534
1961	52,349	257,788
1960	40,275	277,717

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0% in Belgium and +0.33% in North Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +0.42% in North Korea.

Birth rate in Belgium vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Belgium

North Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Belgium	North Korea
2023	9.4	12.9
2022	9.8	13.1
2021	10.2	13.3
2020	9.9	13.4
2019	10.2	13.4
2018	10.4	13.4
2017	10.5	13.5
2016	10.8	13.5
2015	10.8	13.4
2014	11.2	13.4
2013	11.3	13.4
2012	11.5	13.3
2011	11.7	13.3
2010	11.9	13.3
2009	11.8	13.4
2008	11.9	13.9
2007	11.7	13.9
2006	11.6	14
2005	11.4	13.9
2004	11.3	14.6
2003	11	15.3
2002	10.9	16.1
2001	11.2	16.9
2000	11.4	17.5
1999	11.2	18.3
1998	11.2	18.9
1997	11.4	19.4
1996	11.5	20
1995	11.4	20.3
1994	11.5	20.4
1993	12	20.4
1992	12.4	20.5
1991	12.6	20.6
1990	12.4	20.5
1989	12.2	20.2
1988	12.1	20.2
1987	11.9	20.3
1986	11.9	20.4
1985	11.6	20.4
1984	11.7	20.4
1983	11.9	20.5
1982	12.2	20.6
1981	12.6	20.8
1980	12.6	20.1
1979	12.6	20.2
1978	12.5	20.1
1977	12.4	20.4
1976	12.3	21.5
1975	12.2	23.9
1974	12.7	25.6
1973	13.3	28.2
1972	14	33.7
1971	14.6	33.4
1970	14.7	35.3
1969	14.7	36.2
1968	14.8	37.1
1967	15.3	39.3
1966	15.9	36.6
1965	16.4	35.4
1964	17.2	35.4
1963	17.1	36.1
1962	16.8	34
1961	17.3	32.3
1960	16.8	34.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 12.9 in North Korea, compared with 16.8 and 34.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Belgium

Factual

UN forecast

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Belgium	North Korea
2100	12.8%	13%
2099	12.8%	13.1%
2098	12.9%	13.2%
2097	12.9%	13.3%
2096	12.9%	13.4%
2095	13%	13.4%
2094	13%	13.5%
2093	13.1%	13.6%
2092	13.1%	13.7%
2091	13.2%	13.8%
2090	13.2%	13.8%
2089	13.2%	13.8%
2088	13.3%	13.9%
2087	13.3%	13.9%
2086	13.3%	13.9%
2085	13.3%	13.8%
2084	13.3%	13.8%
2083	13.3%	13.8%
2082	13.3%	13.7%
2081	13.3%	13.7%
2080	13.2%	13.7%
2079	13.2%	13.6%
2078	13.2%	13.6%
2077	13.1%	13.6%
2076	13.1%	13.6%
2075	13%	13.7%
2074	13%	13.7%
2073	12.9%	13.8%
2072	12.9%	13.8%
2071	12.9%	14%
2070	12.9%	14.1%
2069	12.9%	14.2%
2068	12.9%	14.3%
2067	13%	14.5%
2066	13%	14.6%
2065	13.1%	14.8%
2064	13.1%	14.9%
2063	13.2%	15%
2062	13.3%	15.1%
2061	13.4%	15.2%
2060	13.5%	15.3%
2059	13.6%	15.4%
2058	13.7%	15.4%
2057	13.7%	15.4%
2056	13.8%	15.4%
2055	13.9%	15.4%
2054	13.9%	15.4%
2053	13.9%	15.3%
2052	14%	15.3%
2051	14%	15.2%
2050	13.9%	15.2%
2049	13.9%	15.2%
2048	13.8%	15.2%
2047	13.8%	15.2%
2046	13.7%	15.3%
2045	13.7%	15.3%
2044	13.6%	15.5%
2043	13.5%	15.6%
2042	13.4%	15.8%
2041	13.4%	16%
2040	13.3%	16.2%
2039	13.3%	16.5%
2038	13.3%	16.7%
2037	13.3%	17%
2036	13.5%	17.2%
2035	13.6%	17.5%
2034	13.7%	17.8%
2033	13.9%	18%
2032	14.1%	18.2%
2031	14.3%	18.4%
2030	14.5%	18.6%
2029	14.7%	18.7%
2028	15%	18.8%
2027	15.3%	18.9%
2026	15.6%	18.9%
2025	15.9%	18.9%
2024	16%	18.9%
2023	16.3%	19%
2022	16.5%	19%
2021	16.7%	19.1%
2020	16.8%	19.1%
2019	16.9%	19.1%
2018	16.9%	19.2%
2017	17%	19.4%
2016	17%	19.6%
2015	17%	19.8%
2014	17%	20.1%
2013	17%	20.4%
2012	17%	20.8%
2011	17%	21.2%
2010	16.9%	21.6%
2009	16.9%	22.1%
2008	16.9%	22.5%
2007	16.9%	23%
2006	17%	23.4%
2005	17.1%	23.9%
2004	17.2%	24.3%
2003	17.3%	24.6%
2002	17.5%	25%
2001	17.5%	25.3%
2000	17.6%	25.6%
1999	17.7%	25.8%
1998	17.7%	26%
1997	17.8%	26.2%
1996	17.9%	26.3%
1995	18%	26.4%
1994	18.1%	26.4%
1993	18.1%	26.4%
1992	18.2%	26.3%
1991	18.2%	26.4%
1990	18.1%	26.5%
1989	18.1%	26.8%
1988	18.2%	27.3%
1987	18.3%	28%
1986	18.6%	29%
1985	18.8%	29.9%
1984	19.1%	30.9%
1983	19.4%	32%
1982	19.6%	33.1%
1981	19.9%	34.2%
1980	20.3%	35.1%
1979	20.6%	36%
1978	21%	36.9%
1977	21.4%	37.7%
1976	21.8%	38.3%
1975	22.2%	38.8%
1974	22.6%	39.3%
1973	23%	39.8%
1972	23.3%	40.2%
1971	23.5%	40.3%
1970	23.6%	40.1%
1969	23.8%	39.8%
1968	23.9%	39.2%
1967	23.9%	38.3%
1966	24%	37.3%
1965	24%	36.7%
1964	23.9%	36.6%
1963	23.9%	36.5%
1962	23.8%	36.6%
1961	23.8%	37%
1960	23.7%	37.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 18.9% in North Korea in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 26.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and North Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs North Korea

Chart Table

Belgium

North Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Belgium	North Korea
2023	4	67
2022	11	67
2021	7	72
2020	4	66
2019	4	66
2018	5	69
2017	5	70
2016	5	71
2015	5	72
2014	5	73
2013	6	75
2012	5	76
2011	6	76
2010	6	77
2009	6	78
2008	6	79
2007	7	80
2006	6	80
2005	7	78
2004	7	77
2003	7	76
2002	7	131
2001	8	130
2000	8	129
1999	8	129
1998	8	129
1997	8	128
1996	9	128
1995	9	127
1994	9	57
1993	9	46
1992	9	37
1991	9	38
1990	9	43
1989	9	49
1988	9	55
1987	9	62
1986	9	68
1985	9	76

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Belgium, compared to 67 deaths in North Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Belgium

North Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Belgium	North Korea
2023	0.36%	1.8%
2022	0.37%	1.77%
2021	0.38%	1.74%
2020	0.39%	1.74%
2019	0.39%	1.77%
2018	0.4%	1.84%
2017	0.4%	1.91%
2016	0.41%	2.06%
2015	0.41%	2.14%
2014	0.42%	2.26%
2013	0.42%	2.41%
2012	0.43%	2.57%
2011	0.44%	2.72%
2010	0.45%	2.87%
2009	0.46%	3%
2008	0.47%	3.1%
2007	0.48%	3.24%
2006	0.49%	3.28%
2005	0.5%	3.33%
2004	0.52%	3.38%
2003	0.53%	3.45%
2002	0.55%	9.78%
2001	0.57%	9.9%
2000	0.59%	10%
1999	0.61%	10.2%
1998	0.64%	10.3%
1997	0.67%	10.5%
1996	0.72%	10.6%
1995	0.77%	10.8%
1994	0.82%	4.25%
1993	0.87%	4.27%
1992	0.92%	4.25%
1991	0.96%	4.18%
1990	1%	4.07%
1989	1.03%	3.95%
1988	1.07%	3.83%
1987	1.1%	3.78%
1986	1.14%	3.68%
1985	1.18%	3.68%
1984	1.22%	3.71%
1983	1.27%	3.8%
1982	1.33%	3.91%
1981	1.39%	4.05%
1980	1.45%	4.22%
1979	1.52%	4.4%
1978	1.59%	4.59%
1977	1.67%	4.8%
1976	1.76%	5.03%
1975	1.86%	5.28%
1974	1.97%	5.56%
1973	2.08%	5.86%
1972	2.19%	6.2%
1971	2.3%	6.58%
1970	2.39%	6.99%
1969	2.48%	7.45%
1968	2.55%	7.94%
1967	2.62%	8.45%
1966	2.7%	8.96%
1965	2.79%	9.46%
1964	2.89%	9.92%
1963	3%	10.4%
1962	3.12%	10.8%
1961	3.25%	11.2%
1960	3.39%	11.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 1.8% in North Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.